America identifies as a nation of truck owners. America knows electric vehicles are the future. But few Americans are sold on electric trucks. That’s the conclusion of a new poll from Reuters and Ipsos.
Agreement on Importance of Trucks, EVs
Reuters reports, “67 percent of all respondents agreed in a bipartisan consensus that pickup trucks are the American way of life.” An almost-identical 65 percent agreed that “electric vehicles (EVs) are the future of the auto industry.”
While the results did show a bit of a partisan divide over EVs, more than half of respondents from both major political parties agreed that EVs are the future.
But Respondents Say EVs Not Worth Cost
That doesn’t mean, however, that Americans are ready to embrace electric trucks. Nearly half of respondents agreed that “EVs are not worth the cost.” When asked what factors would matter to them when buying a new truck, just 19 percent said they would want an environmentally friendly one. Durability and low operating costs ranked higher.
The results suggest that to win Americans over, electric truck manufacturers need to focus on cost and on demonstrating that EVs are as durable and capable as gasoline-powered trucks.
Plenty of Electric Trucks in the Pipeline
Several electric pickups are close to reaching dealership lots. General Motors has begun taking orders for its GMC Hummer EV pickup. Starting at $79,995, it should do little to address the affordability concern. But the Hummer name is associated with tough, durable vehicles.
GM says its most popular truck, the Chevy Silverado, will get an electric version soon.
Ford, meanwhile, recently introduced its F-150 Lightning EV. The Lightning starts under $40,000 and qualifies for the full $7,500 federal EV tax rebate. Ford says it has already received more than 100,000 reservations for the Lightning. But, while Ford has cited a driving range of up to 300 miles, we’re still waiting to learn what happens to the Lightning’s range when hauling a full payload or towing.
The Tesla Cybertruck also starts under $40,000 and boasts the highest tow rating among electric trucks revealed so far – up to 14,000 pounds. But Tesla hasn’t revealed what happens to the range when towing that weight.
Researchers polled 1,005 adults between June 3 and 4 online.
